Mr. West, 54, had been a Dallas leader for 30 years, gracing an array of projects with his talents. His highest-profile projects included contributions to the Dallas Theater Center, the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, the Shakespeare Festival of Dallas, the Dallas International Film Festival and the Omni Dallas Hotel.

" Jeff saw the big picture and how all the pieces fit together - and yet he also understood human scale and the human experience," said former Dallas City Council member Veletta Forsythe Lill. "No project was too big or too small for Jeff."

At the development company Matthews Southwest, Mr. West had a senior role in projects including the Omni, where he selected the original work of local artists for the rooms and common areas, said Matthews Southwest president Jack Matthews.

"He was the guy who oversaw all of that for us," Mr. Matthews said. "He did the work of three people."

Since Monday many people have asked: When's the memorial service? The answer: Friday. And, as befitting such a beloved figure who cared about Dallas more than anyone I've ever known, it's being held in a room big enough to accommodate the throng expected to pay their respects. This just in from Veletta Lill:

There has been an enormous outpouring of love and condolences with the loss of our friend Jeff West. In order to accommodate the shared loss there will be a Celebration of Jeff's Life on Friday, May 25, from 4-6 pm, at the Southside Music Hall at the Gilley's/Palladium complex at 1135 South Lamar, Dallas TX 75215. Please join family and friends and bring your best Jeff West story.